June 16, 2005

Who
The Museum School invites the general public

What
Empty Bowls Fundraiser to Stop World Hunger

When
Thursday, July 7th
5:30–7:30 pm

Where
Downtown Johnny Brown’s
1220 Third Avenue
San Diego

Why
We want to help our world community stop world hunger.

We are happy to announce our 3rd Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser. Students at the Museum School are selling their beautiful handmade clay bowls to help stop world hunger. They know through their efforts that they can make a difference, and hope you can too. For $12 you will receive a beautiful handmade clay bowl served with a warm meal inside. Half of the donations will be given to the UNICEF emergency assistance areas to fight world hunger. The remaining half plus any additional donations will be used to help fund materials for next year’s fundraiser.

On July 7th, from 5:30 to 7:30pm, we will all dine together at Downtown Johnny Brown’s, a restaurant that has donated its food and services for the third year in a row. After you have finished your meal, you may take the bowl home as a reminder that you made a difference in the fight to stop world hunger.

Please join us. Everyone in the community is welcome. Help our students make the world a better place for children in need.

Background Information
The Museum School began working on The Empty Bowls Project in the fall of 2002 as an exploration of its community service department, which focuses on service learning and gets the children involved in activities to benefit the community. This year, students enrolled in grades 3 through 6, raised money to help victims of the Tsunami in Southeast Asia, organized a canned food drive for local shelters, engaged in art and recreational activities with senior citizens at St. Paul’s Manor and participated in The Empty Bowls Project. As a result, the students learned about a variety of ways they can contribute to their community, share their talents and energy with others in the neighborhood, and raise awareness of important issues, such as world hunger. Every student made at least two or three bowls and has graciously donated their artwork for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser. All bowls are handmade by children and fired with lead-free glazes. For more information on the Museum School, visit museumschool.sandi.net.

The Empty Bowls Project
The basic idea for The Empty Bowls Project is simple. Participants create ceramic bowls and then serve a simple meal in the bowl. Guests choose a bowl to use that day at the fundraiser and to keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. In exchange for the meal and the bowl, the guest gives a minimum donation of twelve dollars.

The Museum School was introduced to the project by their art teacher, Branan Freeman, who met the artists who first created The Empty Bowls Project at their school in Michigan in 1990. She was inspired by their vision and decided to join in their efforts to fight world hunger by developing a class curriculum with fellow teacher, Holly Evans. Together, they created the Community Service Department. In the last two years, they have raised over $4,000 for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser. This project aims to raise awareness and funds to fight hunger.

UNICEFMoney raised from our Empty Bowls Project will be donated to UNICEF emergency assistance areas to fight world hunger.